British Cycling battles to save road cycling

Organisation fears for the future of the sport and enlists Facebook to gather support

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Road cycling is on the decline in Britain, threatening the future of the sport, according to the sports national governing body British Cycling.

Organisers of road racing events across the UK are being thwarted by growing police charges and increasingly archaic legislation – discouraging often unpaid volunteers from staging events.

British Cycling has warned that these grass roots events are disappearing, forcing up-and-coming stars to travel abroad for racing experience. The organisation has turned to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the Department for Transport and the Home Office for help in the campaign.

Last week British Cycling sent a letter to MPs and parliamentary candidates to raise support and awareness. The letter was signed by BC CEO Ian Drake, performance director Dave Brailsford CBE and Sir Chris Hoy.

British Cycling has also turned to Facebook (Keep Racing on the Roads) to drum up awareness.

Ian Drake, British Cycling’s CEO, said: "The decline of road races in this country absolutely must be reversed. We are working really hard on this issue and we believe that with the right support from Government and the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon we have a rare opportunity to make some fundamental changes.

"I am asking all our members and all cycling enthusiasts to get behind us as we campaign to secure the future of UK road racing."